Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar
{{Short description|Seaside heritage resort in Bataan, Philippines}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox park
| name = Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar
| photo_width =
| photo_caption = View of the hotel grounds
| map = Luzon mainland#Philippines
| map_caption = Location in Luzon##Location in the Philippines
| type = Heritage beach resort
| coords = {{coord|14|36|09.6|N|120|23|06.9|E|format=dms|dim:30_type:landmark_region:PH|display=inline,title}}
| area = {{convert|400|ha|sqm|abbr=on}}{{cite news|url=https://philstarlife.com/living/614220-las-casas-filipinas-de-acuzar|title=Why Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar should be in your next itinerary|publisher=Philippine Star|publication-date=December 21, 2021|access-date=August 7, 2023}}
| opened = {{Start date and age|2010|01}}
| founder = Jose Acuzar
| operator = Marivent Resort Hotel Inc.
| visitation_num =
| status =
| designation =
| open =
| website = {{URL|https://www.lascasasfilipinas.com/|lascasasfilipinas.com}}
}}
Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar (Spanish for "Acuzar's Philippine Houses") is a beach resort, hotel, convention center and heritage destination in Bagac, Bataan, Philippines.{{cite web|title=...a New San Jose Builders project|url=http://www.lascasasfilipinas.com/|publisher=Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar|accessdate=January 21, 2013}}
History
Jose Acuzar, the owner of New San Jose Builders, Inc., started to rebuild Spanish colonial-era mansions in Bagac in 2003. In January 2010, the area was opened to the public as the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar,{{cite news |last1=Orejas |first1=Tonette |title=Where memories, heritage line the streets |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/184317/where-memories-heritage-line-the-streets |access-date=7 March 2021 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=29 April 2012 |language=en}} although the area was already being used as taping location of the GMA Network series Zorro ten months earlier by March 2009.{{cite web|URL=https://www.pep.ph/guide/tv/3620/on-the-set-zorro-in-bagac-bataan|title=ON THE SET: Zorro in Bagac, Bataan|author=Dimaculangan, Jocelyn|date=March 27, 2009|publisher=Philippine Entertainment Portal|access-date=August 8, 2023}} It was placed under the management of Genesis Hotels and Resorts Corporation.
Las Casas Filipinas temporarily closed in early 2020 due to community quarantine measures imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic but eventually reopened in July 2020.{{cite news |title=Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar reopens |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/06/16/public-square/las-casas-filipinas-de-acuzar-reopens/732028/ |access-date=March 7, 2021 |work=The Manila Times |date=June 16, 2020 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |title=Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar to reopen doors in July after 3-month lockdown |url=https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/travel-and-tourism/2020/06/16/2021054/las-casas-filipinas-de-acuzar-reopen-doors-july-after-3-month-lockdown |access-date=March 7, 2021 |work=The Philippine Star |date=June 16, 2020}}
In November 2021 it was named the "Best Historic Hotel in Asia and the Pacific" by the Historic Hotels of America, citing it as one of the hotels that "best celebrate its history in the guest experience and provide exceptional customer hospitality and service."{{cite web|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/lifestyle/travel/82666/las-casas-filipinas-de-acuzar-named-best-historic-hotel-in-asia/story|title=Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar named Best Historic Hotel in Asia|last=Lim|first=Ron|publisher=GMA News|date=November 16, 2021|access-date=August 7, 2023}}
Aside from Zorro, it was also used as a filming location of Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral,{{cite web|url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2018/09/28/las-casas-revisits-past-through-biopic-film-goyo-ang-batang-heneral/|title=Las Casas revisits past through biopic film ‘Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral’|publisher=BusinessMirror|date=September 28, 2018|access-date=August 7, 2023}} Heneral Luna,{{cite web|url=https://metro.style/travel/itineraries/las-casas-filipinas-goyo-heneral-luna-locations/10871|title=Iconic Locations Inside Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar To Cure Your "Goyo" And "Heneral Luna" Hangover|website=Metro Style|publisher=ABS-CBN Publishing|date=September 16, 2018|access-date=August 7, 2023}}Maria Clara at Ibarra, FPJ's Ang Probinsyano and Widow's War.{{cite news|url=https://tonite.abante.com.ph/2024/05/16/bea-bumalik-sa-lugar-na-nag-propose-si-dominic|title=Bea bumalik sa lugar na nag-propose si Dominic|publisher=Abante Tonite|date=2024-05-16|language=fil|accessdate=2024-08-05}}
Features
Las Casas Filipinas covers an area of around {{convert|400|ha}} in Bagac, Bataan. For its lodging facilities, Las Casas Filipinas has 128 guest rooms and 63 "elite casas" as of January 2021.{{cite news |last1=Quismorio |first1=Ellson |title=DoT chief cites Las Casas’ way of preserving local historical sites |url=https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/31/dot-chief-cites-las-casas-way-of-preserving-local-historical-sites/ |access-date=March 7, 2021 |work=Manila Bulletin |date=January 31, 2021}}
=Heritage houses=
File:LasCasasFilipinasdeAçúzarjf6798 03.JPG|Casa Hidalgo
File:Las Casas Filipinas.JPG|Casa San Miguel
File:Casa Mexico, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, Bataan.JPG|Casa Mexico
File:Las Casa Filipinas 2.JPG|Casa Byzantina
The main attraction of the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is its heritage houses, which were transplanted from outside Bagac, Bataan. The houses are disassembled from their original location and reconstructed inside the premise of the Las Casas Filipinas. This method of heritage conservation has been contentious among conservationists since they believed that their original communities could have benefitted from the structures had they been restored on site.{{cite news |last1=Ranada |first1=Pia |title=The tragedy of Bahay Alberto |url=https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/the-tragedy-of-bahay-alberto |access-date=March 7, 2021 |work=Rappler |date=November 3, 2012 |language=en}} The heritage park's proponent Gerry Acuzar claimed that he went with the method in order to save the structures from decay and neglect. The heritage park was lauded by the Department of Tourism in 2021 under Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat for its preservation efforts.
Houses included in the Las Casas Filipinas are evaluated for their historical, cultural and architectural value. Most structures dates back to the Spanish colonial era, but some buildings were built later such as the Casa Lubao which was built in 1920 during the American era. The heritage park also include a torogan, a Maranao royal clan house from Lanao in Mindanao.{{cite news |title=Art installations inaugurate art space at controversial Acuzar ‘heritage resort’ in Bataan |url=https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/105391/art-installations-inaugurate-art-space-at-controversial-acuzar-heritage-resort-in-bataan/ |access-date=March 7, 2021 |work=Inquirer Lifestyle |date=May 26, 2013}}
Among the notable houses transplanted to the heritage park are: Casa Bizantina, Casa Hidalgo, Casa Jaen I, and Casa Unisan.
=Other structures=
Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar also hosts a small church known as the Sanctuario de San Jose.{{cite news |title=Las Casas perfect for shoots and weddings |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/10/05/public-square/las-casas-perfect-for-shoots-and-weddings/776318/ |access-date=March 7, 2021 |work=Manila Times |url-access=subscription |date=October 5, 2020}} Other features include the Napiya Spa, a swimming pool.{{cite news |title=Tales of love, lust, and murder at Las Casas Filipinas |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/travel/342418/tales-of-love-lust-and-murder-at-las-casas-filipinas/story/ |access-date=March 7, 2021 |work=GMA News Online |date=January 4, 2014 |language=en}} The Tulay ni Lola Basyang is a bridge that crosses the Umagol River and is a replica of the old Puente de España in Manila.{{cite news |last1=Tugade |first1=Edgardo |title=Las Casas Filipinas De Acuzar: Restoring the lost glory of old Filipino houses |url=https://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/209564 |access-date=March 7, 2021 |work=Manila Standard |date=June 30, 2016}}
File:Las Casas Church.jpg|Sanctuario de San Jose
File:Umagol River in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar.jpg|Rows of houses lining Umagol River
File:Hotel de Oriente.jpg|Hotel de Oriente
File:LasCasasFilipinasdeAçúzarjf 7056 01.JPG|Cobblestone-covered street
File:LasCasasFilipinasdeAçúzarjf 7056 10.JPG|Tulay ni Lola Basyang
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
- {{Official website|http://lascasasfilipinas.com/}}
{{Central Luzon attractions}}
Category:Open-air museums in the Philippines
Category:Buildings and structures in Bataan